My son, my heart, my hero / Shirley Watson (Mom) Craig was a part of my heart that will never die. Although his body is gone he will live forever in my whole being. He was a brave and proud man that never quit even though there were times he wanted to. He would give you all he had.He was my hero... now he's the wind beneath my wings.

This would be Craig talking to me / Shirl Watson (Mom)

Mama Don't Cry

Mama don't crybecause were apartdon't you know I'm still livingDeep down in your heart??

Always in my heart / Curtis Wolf (Friends)
Craig and I became friends in the DEP program out of Battle Creek, Raised our hands to enlist the same day, flew to MCRD San Diego together and yes missing our flight along the way, Same Platoon in boot camp together, same SOI Company together and then our first duty station was together with 2/7. I thought myself lucky to have had the time that I did with him. Craig was had the biggest heart and was the type of friend that you could always count on. Now that I am out and finally found my way back to Battle Creek I will visit him often. Love you Brother. Close

To lose a son / Cherri Roemeling (He served with my son )
My thoughts and prayers are with you. I feel we have a bond as mother's of a Marine. I lost my son Johnny George after he got out of the Marines to sudden cardiac arrhythmia. Please feel free to e-mail me at anytime.
Cherri Close

We will never forget you / Pat Mounts (Served together 2/7 )
It was an honor to have the opportunity to serve with Craig and to know someone that was as goodhearted as he was. I can remember times spent talking about life friends and family. He always had kind words that were comforting to hear. He sacrificed everything to ensure that those at home would not have to bear the burden of ensuring the American people's safety and security. We are forever in debt to you and we will never forget what you have given us. Semper Fi brothers foreverPat MountsU.S.M.C. Close

This is the first time I have posted here and for that I am sorry and ashamed your memory deserves much more than that especially from a soldier. You may not be with us here but you will always be in my heart and the hearts of all who knew you. I think of you and your sacrifice every time I put on my uniform and remind others around me of who you are when they forget the true heroes in the world. Thank you for your sacrifice your service your honor and above all your heart. The world is a better and brighter place because of people willing to give all people like you.

We Miss You. / Baylee McEwan (Cousin)
Hey Craig. I know i didn't know you that well but you are still family. I see your dad every once in a while up at my grandparents store. He's doing okay. Just know that we all love you and miss you. <3 Close

Hey buddy just wanted to drop by and say hey. I havent been on here in a long time. I just wanted to drop by and let you know that I still think about you all the time, I miss you a ton. I know I don’t get up to see you enough but I really don’t like to go to UC. The only time that I really go there is to see my grandma. I will def stop by the next time I am in town though. Be cool buddy, just know that you are always in my thought and prayers. Miss you bro. Talk to you soon buddy.

Why I do it / Mom
I just came from the cemetery. I put your flowers back up there I took down so the frost wouldn't get to them. I got to thinking of why I do that and everything else I do at the cemetery. I realized that it keeps me closer to you or so it seems to me. I have always taken care of you up until you joined the Marines and then some after that. I was always there when you needed me, to do things for you that you couldn't do yourself because you was busy with school, on base and couldn't get off, or overseas. I sent you things you needed, listened to you when you needed to talk, even about things I didn't want to hear about, but I was there because you needed me to be. Now that you are with God I still get over the urge to help you and to do things for you. I go to the cemetery and clean off your headstone when ever it snows (so you don't get cold), I clean the leaves off when they fall onto your grave and tell you that no matter where you're at you always leave a mess, and now that spring is here I take you hanging baskets and take care of them because I know you can't do it yourself. I guess that's the mother in me. I guess that's that way I keep from facing the fact that you're never coming home, that way I don't break down into a crumpled mess. That way I can be strong like you told me I was.

I served with Craig the the first time he went over in '04. Sometimes our team would get together and pray before a mission, Watson, in a different team, would join in. Craig was real, even still, i can remember his vibe, his prescence, it just gave you a good feeling when he was around. The man was a great friend, good hearted, genuine person. Love you Umpa Doomp

Hey, Craig. / Stephanie Peterson-Ferrel (cousin)
I thought about you today. Someone sent me a link to a video about Kaziah the Goat Woman. I watched it, and I remembered she painted a portrait of you. And I was mad about you being gone all over again.

My school paid tribute / Heather Duran (none)
Today, May 29, one day after memorial, my school set up a memorial for those fallen heroes. I attend Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. The memorial is a wall of names of all the solidiers who have died since the war began. Along with the wall, they have made individual name tags of every soldier and asking people to wear one name around their neck in order to honor that soldier. I just want to say that I am proud to be honoring Craig N. Watson and wearing his name around my neck. I want to thank all the men and women out there who serve our country and pay the ultimate price. Close

Thank you, for everything, I don't have much to say, but I just wanted to say thank you and I hope one day we will meet again. You are in my thoughts often and I am praying for your family. Again, thank you for everything.

Coming home / Shirley Watson (Mom)
Well I hear a lot of guys are coming home now and I feel the jealousy grow inside of me. Wondering why it couldn't be you coming home. I sit here with tears rolling down my cheeks wishing you would walk in the door and try to surprise me again. Wishing you could live to be an old man and live the life you dreamed for so long. Wishing it was me gone instead of you. Wishing I knew how to get past these feelings. Oh how I miss you. Close

Hey Craigers / Jamie Deaton (Brother)
Well Iwentto a buddysbrothers funeral today and LOST it thinking of yours!!!!! I hope and pray that Matt finds you and you guys become friends that would be totally cool, I told Clark today about how you were up there with Matt and you two were looking down and telling us to quit being a bunch of "crybabys" lol well anyway I MISS YOU I KNOW you are with us ALWAYS........ LOVE ya Bro, Jamie Close

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream. The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near, But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear. Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow. My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear, And I crept to the door just to see who was near. Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night, A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight. A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old, Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold. Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled, Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child. "What are you doing?" I asked without fear, "Come in this moment, it's freezing out here! Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve, You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!" For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift, Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.. To the window that danced with a warm fire's light Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right, I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night." "It's my duty to stand at the front of the line, That separates you from the darkest of times. No one had to ask or beg or implore me, I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me. My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December," Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers." My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam', And now it is my turn and so, here I am. I've not seen my own son in more than a while, But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile. Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag, The red, white, and blue... an American flag. I can live through the cold and the being alone, Away from my family, my house and my home. I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet, I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat. I can carry the weight of killing another, Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.. Who stand at the front against any and all, To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall." "So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright, Your family is waiting and I'll be all right." "But isn't there something I can do, at the least, "Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast? It seems all too little for all that you've done, For being away from your wife and your son." Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret, "Just tell us you love us, and never forget. To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone - To stand your own watch, no matter how long. For when we come home, either standing or dead, To know you remember we fought and we bled. Is payment enough, and with that we will trust, That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S.service men and women for our being able to celebrate these festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

Thanks/ Sean Miller (Friend)
Whats up big man. Today is one year, dont seem like it has been that long. I miss like crazy man, but you know that. I just want to thanks for everything you ever did for me and continue to do for me today. You are def one of the best friends a guy could ever have. I learned to live my life to the fullest each and every day and you helped me learn that. In school you were always happy and always had a smile, no matter how shitty the day way. You are a great guy. I miss you man. I will be up there later to come see you. Keep flying high and guiding us all. Love you. Sean Close